In almost all of the work I do, my name isn’t visible.
But my electronic fingerprints are everywhere.
Besides being a long-time editor at USA TODAY, I’ve been the one who transforms breaking-news blog entries from harried Gannett reporters into stories with a succinct lead, valuable context and coherent ending for a national audience.
I glean trends from what — at first glance — look like unrelated events across the country and combine them into one piece.
I explain how a seemingly local story fits into the national picture and why everyone should care.
I’m the modern-day, digital version of “Get me rewrite” from The Front Page. But because of a shortage of hands-on editing at the local level, I also have my hands in reporting to fill gaps I see in stories.
The reason you rarely see my name? I give myself a byline or creditline only when I make a phone call to gather additional information.
Reconstructing breaking news on a priest
Until Jan. 1, 2019, Gannett had an agreement with the television stations that used to be a part of the company until it split in two pieces in June 2015. We could post stories, photos and video from the Tegna TV stations, and they could post USA TODAY Network content. …